Clip for garments or the like



Mgy 27, 1952 R, L RANK A 2,598,600

CLIP FOR-GARMENTS OR THE LIKE Filed Jan. 24, 1949 Flc no toen/CERAM 5f@ f g@ Patented May 27, 1952 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,598,600 l CLIP Fon GARMENTS oa. THE LIKE Richard Lorence Rank, St. Louis, Mo.

Application January 24, 1949, Serial No. 72,500

The present invention relates to a clip for garments or the like, and particularly a clip of the type that is usable for sanitary belts, although -it will be understood that it is capable of many uses.

' The present invention is designed to be an improvement over the clip shown in prior application Serial No. 523,242, filed February 21, 1944, now Patent No. 2,461,083, dated February 8, 1949.

It is an Vobject of the invention to provide a clip that has a snap type action and that will hold securely in closed position. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a clip made with the minimum number of parts and of inexpensive construction. Other objects lwill appear from the description to follow:

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a clip made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the clip;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the main jaw member of the clip;

Fig; 5 is a rear elevation of the main jaw member of the clip;

Fig. 6 is a section transversely to the main jaw member of the clip, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is another transverse section, 4taken on the line 'l-I of Fig. 4; y

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1, showing the clip closed;

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 8, but showing the clip partially released; and Y Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of the clip fully released.

The clip comprises three portions consisting of a front jaw member I2, a back jaw member I3, and av latch member I4. The design is such that each of these members may be made from a stamping or other inexpensive process.

The front jaw member I2 preferably has side ilange's I5 and I6, and a top flange I'I. These afford proper strength and rigidity to the member, and are designed so that the jaw maylbe made from a stamping. There is a loop I8 shaped as shown with its ends inserted in holes I9 Ainthe ilanges I5 and I6, respectively,` so that the loop may rbe attached to the belt or other member to be attached, and have swiveled engagement with the clip. f

The front jaw member I2 is preferably constructed with a longitudinal channel-like portion 20 extending upwardly from its bottom nearly to its top. The connecting portion forming 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-250) the bottom of this channel is cut away to provide an opening 2I adjacent the top, and is likewise slit back at 22 and 23 to provide an elongated spring-like tongue 24, the end of which projects above the top edge of the remainder of the connecting portion of the channel 20, into the opening 2I. This tongue 24 is normally sprung or bent backwards a little, as shown in the drawmgs.

The ends of the wire loop I8 project inwardly of the anges I5 and I6, and receive the upper hooked-over ends of the back jaw member I3. As shown in Fig. 3, the back member is cutaway downwardly a substantial distance from the top almost to the bottom of the member, so that it is formed with bifurcations 30 and 3I that are bent over in the manner shown in Fig. 8. The extreme ends of these bifurcations are bent preferably about the degree shown in Fig. 8 or a little less, so that, when the back member I3 is swung toward the front about the ends of the loop I8, there will be a slight spring tending to separate the parts I2 and I3.

The latch member I4 is formed of a generally J-shaped strip that is approximately as wide as the channel 20, so that it may be received in that channel, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Its shorter end is looped around, as shown at 33, and this loop is disposed over two inwardly projecting lugs 34 that are formed as integral parts of the back member I3. They extend out from the edges of the slot forming the bifurcations in this member. Other arrangements may be provided for pivoting the latch member, but this is found most convenient and inexpensive.

From the loop portion 33, the latch member extends upwardly and then over in something of a hairpin or U curve, as indicated at 36. It thence extends downwardly to form the part that projects through the slot 2I of the front member.

The lower edges of the back jaw member I3 are ared outwardly -beyond the sides of the front jaw member I2, as shown at 39, for a purpose to' appear. The lower portions of the two jaw members are provided with suitable means to engage the material to be clasped, as indicated here by the prongs 40.

Operation The jaw members I2 and I3 are pivoted at their upper ends. v(In the specification and claims, the terms upper and lower arer used only forconvenience, it'being understood vthat they refer to the partsas they appear in the drawings.) The parts to be clamped yare 'disposed between the engaging portions 40 on the jaw members.

`pivot center at 34.

3 The free end of the latch I4, that passes through the opening 2I of the first jaw member, is in the position of Fig. 10. squeezing upon the bottoms of this latch member I4 and the second jaw member I3 forces the two jaw members together as illustrated by Figs. 10, 9 and 8. The closing occurs with a snap action.

To open the clip, the ared out parts 39 on the second jaw member I3 are held between `thumb and forenger VVof one hand. The forefinger of the other hand draws outwardly on the projecting bottom edge of the latch member I4,

' Which opens up, reversing the closing action. The

tongue 24 is preferably disposed to'spring backwardly toward a normal position .indicatedV in Fig. 10, to aid in opening of the jaw members.

It will be seen that the top of the tongue 24, and the top edge of the opening 2I, are at least as high as, and preferably slightly above, the This means that a slight opening up of the U-shaped bend 34 o f the latch `member occurs when ,the latch is Aopened or closed, producing some snap-action -efi'iect The principal snap vaction here is provided by :the tongue 24. .In the position of Figthe Ufshaped bend has engaged the topof the tongue, and the closing ofthe jaw members has-largely displaced the tongue 24 back to the plane of the rst jaw'member I2. The hinge loop 33 of the latch member I4, Which has the additional func- `tion of being an abutment means, then Vengages the tongue-24 somewhat below its free end. Further closing movement of the latch 14, becausey of the shape of the bend 36, bendsthis free end of the ltongue around the abutment means k3.3. resisting such closing movement untilapproximately when theiiaw members are ifully closed. In theiully ,closed position yof vlatch andgiaw members, the U-shaped bend of the latch'has nearer conformation to the shape of the tongue,

and therefore relieves the deformation thereof to at least-a'large extent4 that assures the .snap action. Opening ofj the latch requires-'repetition of thisbending action.

Prior: application Serial No. 523,242 foon-tained Vmany of the .desired features of the present clip,

one end thereto, and with its free end extending adjacent to one edge of the opening, .a 4'latch `member pivoted to the second jawmemher.: for

rocking about an axisthat isinward,fromthefree `endy of `the springfleaf l on; the rst jaw.. member, the latch member extending in a U..typ.eebend'V from its axis, in a first direction, then around 'land into the opposite direction, to provideitlie` U-shaped portion to pass over the end of the spring-leaf, and through the openingrabutment means on the second jawl member projecting toward the iirst jaw member and against which. the spring-leaf engagesinwardly.Y from its free end, in closing movement of the latch member-and jaw members, the bend in the latch member being Soggetto oncogene Lend of triestino-lar oe- Whonthe iawf ond-.latch momo.

yond the abutment means during such closing movement to deform said end over the abutment means, and to relieve said deformation when the jaw and latch members are in closed positions.

2. In a' clip, first and second jaw members pivoted together adjacent their upper ends, and having engaging portions adjacent their lower ends, an opening through the rst jaw member above its engaging portion, a spring-leaf disposed longitudinally of (the first member, attached at one end thereto, and with its `free end extending adjacent to one edge of the opening. a latch member pivoted to the second jaw member for rocking about an axis that is inward from the free end of the spring-leaf on the rst jaw memberfthe Vlatch member extending in a U- type bend from its axis, in a rst direction, then around and into the opposite direction, to provide the peshaped portion to pass over the end of the spring-leaf, and through the opening, abutment means on the `second jaw member ,projecting toward the nist iawlmemberand against -irhich the springfleaf engages V inwardly from free end, in closing movement-of the latchmcgnbeiz and jaw members, the bend in the latch mem er being shaped to engage the end of .the sp ng'- leaf beyond the abutmentrncans duringls "che closing movement to/deform saidenl drenthe abutment means, andto'relieve said deformation when `the jaw and latch membelsrareinclosed positions, the spring-.leaflhaying its .attached end on the opposite side of the abutment means and having its initial' position extending backwardly from the rst jaw 'member toward the second ian member, to be engagedbythe abutment means during closing movement v,of the jaw members; and apply a force yieldably resisting their'clos ing movement.

3. In a clio, .first and second -iaW pivoted togethers/@jacent their upper ends,y having engaging portions adjacent ltheir lower ends, an opening throughtheiirstjaw member above its engaging portion, a springeleafrd' I longitudinally of the rstmembi", attached at one end thereto, and withits freend exteiihg, adjacent to Vone ,edge ci the -opcninfgl av p member pivoted to, the secondjaw Hiembe Qi rocking about an axis that is inward froxntlrie freeend ofthe springfleaf on the first jaw mem? ber, the latch member extending Qina U, bend from its axis, in af nrstdirectiil. en

around' and into the op sito qirgicliq vide the -U-shanedportion:-to,r nass otter-th of tho Snfnefloaf, andthroiieir'thooenine.: abutment means on tnesooondiaumenoernrojecting toward the rst jaw member-fand-aga" f Which. the Spriheeloof ongoeosiinwardly 'tir freey end, in Yclosing movement A het boing Shane@ to oneassthee 1 loaf beyond the Yalostrnaat..y o dosing movement to sioiorinY saidfcnd'ore he abutment means, and tofrelieyesaid deforxn ...e in positions-tho latch member, A,resilient bend portion.v y

'411711, aoiiornrst and: second riveted together. adieoent their non having origthing.portions.adjacentv endo ant-opening throughth first'iawrmenber above its engaging portion',a.` A l longitudinally of the-.rstmemhm at' one end` thereto, and'witnits free h'iexre adieentto oneedeeloi-theonenmgfalatch oornivoted toitheseoond'iaw,mentation@ ing about an axis that is inward from the free end of the spring-leaf on the first jaw member, the latch member extending in a U-type bend from its axis, in a rst direction, then around and into the opposite direction, to provide the U-shaped portion to pass over the end of the spring-leaf, and through the opening, abutment means on the second jaw member projecting toward the rst jaw member and against which the spring-leaf engages inwardly from its free end, in closing movement of the latch member and jaw members, the bend in the latch member being shaped to engage the end of the springleaf beyond the abutment means during such closing movement to deform said end over the abutment means, and to relieve said deformation when the jaw and latch members are in closed positions, the latch member having rolled-over ends for pivotal mounting on the second jaw member, said rolled-over ends comprising the abutment means aforesaid.

5. In a clip, first and second jaw members pivoted together adjacent their upper ends, and having engaging portions adjacent their lower ends, an opening through the rst jaw member above its engaging portion, a spring-leaf disposed longitudinally of the rst member, attached at one end thereto, and with its free end extending adjacent to one edge of the opening, a latch member pivoted to the second jaw member for rocking about an axis that is inward from the free end of the spring-leaf on the rst jaw member, the latch member extending in a U-type bend from its axis, in a rst direction, then around and into the opposite direction, to provide the U-shaped portion to pass over the end of the spring-leaf, and through the opening, abutment means on the second jaw member projecting toward the first jaw member and against which the spring-leaf engages inwardly from its free end, in closing movement of the latch member and jaw members, the bend in the latch member being shaped to engage the end of the springleaf beyond the abutment means during such closing movement to deform said end over the abutment means, and to relieve said deformation when the jaw and latch members are in closed positions, the opening in the first member having an edge engageable by the latch member, the spring leaf extending a short distance beyond said edge.

6. A clip comprising first and second jaw members pivoted together at their upper ends and having engaging portions at their lower ends, an opening near the top of the rst member having a lower edge, slits extending from said lower edge downwardly to provide a spring-like tongue joined at its base to the first member below the opening, the upper end of the tongue projecting a short distance above the lower edge of the opening; a latch member o-f resilient material having one end pivoted to the second jaw member downwardly from the lower edge of the aforesaid opening, said latch member extending upwardly, forwardly, yand downwardly from its pivot in a U- type bend, with its free end extending through the opening in the rst jaw member, the pivoted end of the jaw member providing abutment means extending toward the rst jaw member, and engageable with the spring-like tongue below its end, the bend of the latch member being engageable with the free end of the tongue during latching and closing of the jaw members, to deform the said end over the abutment means, said bend being shaped to relieve the deformation when the jaw members are fully closed and the free end of the latch member is swung toward the first jaw member to its latching position.

RICHARD LORENCE RANK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 686,470 Nelson Nov. 21, 1901 800,499 Shelander Sept. 26, 1905 874,820 Atwood Dec. 24, 1907 897,976 Germann Sept. 8, 1908 2,059,582 Hurewitz Nov. 3, 1936 2,461,083 Rank Feb. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 93,593 Sweden Dec. 2, 1938 

